How Long Before....

[Guest]

Interesting...thanks for that Philip...begs the question why Japanese engine manufacturers bother with other minor motorcycle sports like Flat track racing etc.

 

You wonder why JAWA still bother, when they make so many road bikes.

 

It's the only way money would get into the sport, and that's if the big motorcycle companies and Petrolium companies get involved.

 

Strange that NP spoke about it though...seems rather odd.

 

​Is Flat Track racing a minor sport in the USA? I think you will find it's much bigger and better financed that USA speedway is.

Interesting...thanks for that Philip...begs the question why Japanese engine manufacturers bother with other minor motorcycle sports like Flat track racing etc.

 

You wonder why JAWA still bother, when they make so many road bikes.

 

It's the only way money would get into the sport, and that's if the big motorcycle companies and Petrolium companies get involved.

 

Strange that NP spoke about it though...seems rather odd.

 

​In what way could petroleum companies be involved with speedway?

Edited July 3, 2016 by Guest

[pugwash]

 

 

You don't have to like motorbikes to like speedway. I mean, how many actual motor cycles do you see parked at a speedway?

 

I mentioned to a person that i was off to Wimborne Rd to watch Speedway racing. This person said 'Oh I didn't know that you were a biker!'

That's the perseption that 'joe public' has of the sport. He knows it's there but thinks that it's attended by Greasers.

BSPA need to have a good look at public relations.

Edited July 3, 2016 by pugwash

[Humphrey Appleby]

....the 'Top Racers' just ride in Individual events like the GP?

 

Anyone else think the top end of racers, could end up just competing in a bigger GP series in time?

 

I ask this, based on the Nikki Pedersen interview in last weeks SS. Where he wishes Speedway could go in the direction of F1.

 

Wants to Introduce 'Factory' teams, with Suzuki, Yamaha, Kawasaki involved etc. To attract more money and sponsorship.

 

Goes on about how he has the most sponsors over most riders, his Professionalism, wants to take more of that from F1.

 

Then talks about moving to Monaco and rubbing shoulders with F1 drivers...

 

Can't help thinking it may end up going this way in the future.

It's why competitors are invariably the worst people to run sport.

 

A full-time SGP circus has been mooted since it started, but ain't going to happen because there's not enough money in the sport. And there's not enough money in the sport because it doesn't have wide enough appeal and sponsors and television are not interested.

 

The top-level of the sport already effectively has to be subsidised, so it's just pure pie in the sky that it'll ever get close to MotoGP or whatever.

[Gresham]

 

​Is Flat Track racing a minor sport in the USA? I think you will find it's much bigger and better financed that USA speedway is.

 

​In what way could petroleum companies be involved with speedway?

I'd say flat track racing is a minor sport across the world...it's bigger than speedway in the US though.

 

Petroleum and oil companies could get involved if Speedway changed from running on purely methanol

 

Gulf oil have done it before.

 

The recurring problem I often see, is so many people finding ways for it not to work, rather than finding ways for it to work.

 

Speedway would have to drastically change from it's present form and mind set, but it seems too many people are set in their ways and resistant to change or have a financial agenda behind not changing.

 

It seems every debate, revolves around certain people saying it wont happen because.....

 

Speedway has evolved over the years, in a way that is not sustainable for the long time future of the sport imo.

 

Someone once said, it's a 'garden shed sport' trying to look like F1. I think that's true in many ways.

 

Speedway imo, shouldn't have to be a 'specialist sport'.

 

There is no reason, why I shouldn't be able to go into my local bike dealership and walk along and see Enduro, Moto X, Trials and Speedway bikes lined up together.

 

The sport should imo, be looking to change.

 

Every track should be used not just for meetings, but also public practice sessions.

 

We should be as popular as Moto X...but we aren't, because of how we have let speedway evolve.

 

All of us should be able to purchase a bike and rock up every week at a local track and have a spin, just like they do in Moto X.

 

Fanciful stuff as it is now...but that is how it should be thought of.

 

The fact we've allowed it to get to this stage across the globe is indicative of how it's been promoted and by a very small minority who imo, want to keep it this way.

[SteveLyric2]

Do the likes of Mercedes and Ferrari actually sell or expect to sell more cars as a result of their Formula 1 involvement?

[pugwash]

McClaren do.

[RobMcCaffery]

Do the likes of Mercedes and Ferrari actually sell or expect to sell more cars as a result of their Formula 1 involvement?

Probably.

 

It's called marketing. At the very least it protects their reputation as high-end manufacturers. I doubt very much that they invest out of the kindness of their hearts.

[Alan_Jones]

Do the likes of Mercedes and Ferrari actually sell or expect to sell more cars as a result of their Formula 1 involvement?

 

Win on Sunday, sell on Monday.

[Humphrey Appleby]

If there truly was a market these companies would have become involved years ago. But there isn't. And they haven't.

Wouldn't have thought there's much more of a market than a couple of hundred engines a year.

It's called marketing. At the very least it protects their reputation as high-end manufacturers. I doubt very much that they invest out of the kindness of their hearts.

With Ferrari it's probably also a vanity thing, and they have the brand that F1 sponsors want to be associated with.

[Marcelle]

I mentioned to a person that i was off to Wimborne Rd to watch Speedway racing. This person said 'Oh I didn't know that you were a biker!'

That's the perseption that 'joe public' has of the sport. He knows it's there but thinks that it's attended by Greasers.

BSPA need to have a good look at public relations.

Greasers?....Its not Fecking Quadrophenia!

[Mike.Butler]

The other sports mentioned have a significant worldwide tv audience. Speedway doesn't. Stand-alone GP riders is pie in the sky.

Given a few years I suspect that the Polish league will be unable to offer the kind of money the top boys currently enjoy, and it will be interesting to see how many can survive on GP income alone! I suspect full-time speedway riders may not be around at all in 20 years time.

Edited July 3, 2016 by Mike.Butler

[RobMcCaffery]

Wouldn't have thought there's much more of a market than a couple of hundred engines a year.

 

With Ferrari it's probably also a vanity thing, and they have the brand that F1 sponsors want to be associated with.

Like I said, reputation. It's all part of the mystique.

[teddy2706]

I mentioned to a person that i was off to Wimborne Rd to watch Speedway racing. This person said 'Oh I didn't know that you were a biker!'

That's the perseption that 'joe public' has of the sport. He knows it's there but thinks that it's attended by Greasers.

BSPA need to have a good look at public relations.

"Greasers"? Blimey, where have you been for the last forty years? It's a long time since I was called that! I still ride to meetings, an older gentleman from Yorkshire does too, but we are in a minority.